Thursday, January 29, 2009

Minnesotans sure know how to keep things sizzlin' throughout the frosty months! This weekend inspires seduction, and perhaps in some cases, unapologetic debauchery. Follow the crowd to sexy scenes such as the Spring Awakening after party, or perhaps a dark and sultry musical cabaret; a "peepshow" art show; or even a candy-coated 3-D erotic cult film (enter to win tickets to below). This weekend is your oyster, so put on your best bedroom eyes and make a bold move!

xo-l'étoile

THURSDAY JANUARY 29TH

Ka-Baam!!

@ Bryant Lake Bowl810 W. Lake St. Minneapolis

7-9pm / $10

What's the next best thing to being a superhero? Helping create one! Fulfilling the uber-fantasies of our local comic book fan base, the BLB theater transforms into an interactive brainstorming hullabaloo tonight, where audience suggestions are the inspiration behind the personalities of the leading heroes and the imaginary storyline. As improv actors from HUGE Theater act the adventures out on the spot, DC Comics graphic artist Christopher Jones brings them to life through colorful illustration, providing the most entertaining live action comic since the 1960's Batman television series. Don't miss your chance to be a part of the action, regardless your level of artistic talent.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BLB SITE

THURSDAY JANUARY 29TH

Spring Awakening After Party

@ Chambers901 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis

10:30pm-2am / Free

For a play from the 19th century to still have relevance today is a feat in and of itself, let alone for it to still portray a level of controversy and edginess -- but the revamped interpretation of the German play, Spring Awakening, manages to be all three at once. Sweeping the Tonys with eight wins, Spring Awakening is a musical about teens “coming of age” during a time of repression. Updated musical scores and provocative choreography give the show a hopelessly entertaining rock opera twist. Following the musical's opening performance tonight at the Orpheum, join the cast and crew at Chambers hotel rooftop bar for an exclusive Vita.mn hosted after party. Raise a glass to reckless abandon, self-discovery and sexual liberation while enjoying free appetizers, drink specials and a danceworthy set by DJ Jonathan Ackerman.

Spring Awakening runs through Feb. 1st at the Orpheum Theater. For more info and to reserve tickets for a performance, click HERE.

THURSDAY JANUARY 29TH

The Mad Ripple Thursday Night Hootenanny

@ The Beat Coffeehouse1414 W 28th St.Minneapolis

6:30pm / Free

Like days of old, hootenannies throw back to when musicians got together to jam for their own entertainment as well as for the audience. Only God knows who will show up to play tonight, so the mystery of the lineup is part of the fun. Rock critic and Hoot founder Jim Walsh a.k.a. The Mad Ripple is sure to be heading it up, amping up the energy, and making this coffeeshop feel like an old-time roadhouse.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEAT SITE

THURSDAY JANUARY 29TH

Polish Happy Hour Buffet and Movies

@ Bedlam Theatre1501 S. 6th St.Minneapolis

5pm / $7

Dzien dobry! It’s winter, and Polish food is the perfect hibernation fodder. Eat pierogis, kasha, soup, canapki (open faced horse raddishy sandwiches) and other Polish delights. Then, at 7pm, the Bedlam’s Social Manager and Poland expert extraordinaire will regale all comers with pictures and stories from his trip to Poland. At 8pm, watch Love Stories, a Polish movie. Fill your Polack joke quota for the year in just one evening!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEDLAM SITE

FRIDAY ART PICK: SARINA BREWER

Some may call it roadkill, others see it as an offensive hunting trophy, but when self-proclaimed “rogue taxidermist,” Sarina Brewer, sees a dead animal all she can think is “potential art piece.” Stepping foot inside Sarina Brewer's gallery of work might feel more like a trip through a freak show tent with dead animals stapled and sewn back together, sculptures of furry mutants spliced with two heads and multiple limbs. But for this local experimental artist, dissecting animals to create art is merely a kudos to biology and her way to immortalize the memory of nature's cuddly creatures. Vegans and vegetarian, not to worry; no animals were harmed in Brewer's unusual masterpieces. Instead, each piece is created using donations from the Science Museum and the Nature Resources Department, euthanized pets, and the ample amount of local roadkill. By chemically treating the muscle tissue of the carcass, Brewer is able use all of the animal -even the innards – separating her from the world of traditional taxidermy and keeping in theme with the idea of “waste not, want not.” One look at Sarina Brewer's morbidly cute designs and you'll never look at roadkill in the same light.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SARINA BREWER SITE

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

Story of the Sea CD Release

@ Turf Club 1601 University Ave.St. Paul

9pm / $tbd

The much-anticipated time has arrived. Story of the Sea’s second album has hit the streets! Rock out at the Turf and pick up their latest, Lunar Co. that’s being released on vinyl, with a CD included. Whoa! Crank your turntable and your CD player, and see what sounds better. With These Modern Socks, The Life and Times (Kansas City), Ice Palace

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE STORY OF THE SEA MYSPACE

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

An Evening of Cabaret Macabre with The Bewitched

@ Bryant Lake Bowl810 West Lake St.Minneapolis

10pm / $10

Head to the cozy Bryant Lake Bowl Theater tonight for musical cabaret at its finest! The Bewitched are described as having a “dark, medieval pop sound” that is made that much more interesting by the accompaniment of an autoharp and a dulcimer. This Eastern European-esque troupe will enchant you, entice you...and bewitch you. We had to say it.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BLB SITE

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

BOMP! “The Prequel”

@ Bedlam Theatre1501 S. 6th St. West Bank, Minneapolis

10pm-2am / 18+/ $3

Another Friday dance night? We know what you're thinking, but don't be too quick to judge. The first volume in the the new monthly dance series, Bomp, hosted by DJs Shannon Blowtorch and Wes Winship, is not quite your average club night. First of all, it takes place in the quirky Bedlam Theatre, a non-profit performance space and cocktail lounge whose recent expansion makes the perfect setting for movin' and groovin'. Secondly, it's designed specifically to unite “crossover kids,” who have a hard time choose between the dance punk style of Too Much Love, the crunk flare of Get Cryphy or the disco fever of Street Sounds. As each volume progresses, look forward to guest DJs from other dance nights dropping by -- making the final Friday of the month a sexy night of musical roundup and eclectic flavor. Tonight's party already features some local DJ stars: The Moon Goons and Get Cryphy kids Jimmy 2 Times & Plain Ole Bill. See, we really can all get along.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEDLAM SITE

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

Twin Cities Battle League

@ The Blue Nile2027 E Franklin Ave SMinneapolis

9pm / 18+ / $5

Rap music represents one of the cities' most vibrant scenes. And one of the rawest aspects of hip hop culture that seems to be forgotten in the modern hustle, the freestyle MC battle, will take place at the Blue Nile this evening. Hosted by TruthMaze, one of the fiercest rhyme spitters in the game. This rapstravaganza showdown will see twelve rappers enter, and one leave with a bit more swagger and some cash.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TCBL MYSPACE

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

Idle Hands

@ Nomad501 Cedar Av. S.Minneapolis

9pm / 21+ / $5

The best British band in the Midwest, The Idle Hands, bring their arena-ready, sweet powerpop jams to the Nomad this evening. Supported by indie up and comers Strange Lights and Boom Boom for Everyone.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE IDLE HANDS MYSPACE

FRIDAY JANUARY 30TH

Slam Factory

@Secret LocationWarehouse DistrictE-mail jp@secrettechno.com

2am / Cost tbd

Who's down for an afterparty? Bust on over to the secret location after bar close (but not too long after, if you want to be let in!) and burn one down at yet another epic all night rager hosted by Slam Factory, where a bitchin' line-up of techno and dubstep awaits you. Featuring KJ The Kid Wicked, Joe Defecks, Blaze One, Mike Moilanen, and special guests!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SECRET TECHNO SITE

COOL LINK: TINY SHOWCASE

Buy art, or unselfishly give money to charity: a dilemma no longer. Each week, the entrepreneurial geniuses at Tiny Showcase pick a piece of tiny artwork and create a limited-run print edition of it. For $20 you get not only a sweet piece of art, but also the comfort in knowing both the artist and a charity they personally select, receives a cut of the proceeds! Consider this the fruit-of-the-month-club for art!

2008 was a busy year for Burlesque of North America. We can say in all honesty, that we consider them to be the hardest working kids in print-making, if not in the art scene in general. The boys of Burlesque printed tons of posters last year -- most notably the Obama art prints that are all the rage these days. Tonight's show serves as a 2008 Burlesque retrospective, and will include step-by-step examples of their process, making it a little easier to grasp how much work goes into each and every print. Luckily, one of this crew's other talents is throwing awesome parties, so tonight really is a win-win for us!

If you shock them, they will come. At least, that's the response Rosalux Gallery is hoping to illicit as they turn on their red light for tonight's peepshow-themed fundraiser. Celebrating their seventh anniversary in true debaser style, the risque festivities include an interactive bathroom, sexy films involving cartoon deer, a peepshow art raffle featuring pieces that “expose” the artists, and a grab bag called the “Glory Hole,” all set to the down-right dirty soundtrack provided by fetish kings, Attitude City. Because when a benefit party gets that feeling, it needs sexual healing -- just like the rest of us.

Bonus: After party with Attitude City at Clubhouse Jager (see listing below!)

In societies where female voices are often culturally muffled and sparsely represented, expression through individualized narratives becomes increasingly more important. In celebration of the personal experience, the Weisman's preview party tonight reveals the exhibit, Changing Identities: Recent Works by Women Artists from Vietnam. Ten artists are featured, with work ranging from mixed media, photography, ink drawings, paintings and video. Changing Identities is part of the first U.S. touring exhibition to represent the work of Vietnamese women, and uniquely challenges the stereotypes of a Vietnamese society and the dichotomies women face. Not to mention, The Weisman always throws one hell of an opening party! Tonight's soiree will feature complimentary bevies and apps, up close and personal mingling with the artists and curators, plus sweet beats from DJ Etones to set the mood.

The title of this show couldn't describe l'etoile fave Eric Ink's work more accurately. Inkala's canvases are saturated with multi-layered fields of color and detail obsessed line work, creating characters inspired by travel and reflective of pop culture and urban life. His new works will be on display until the end of February at Nicademus Art & Framing, but tonight's opening reception is where it's at!

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM

SATURDAY JANUARY 31ST

Vic Chesnutt

@ 400 Bar400 Cedar Ave SMinneapolis

9pm / $10

It’s a fine day when Mr. Vic Chesnutt leaves Georgia to sing us strange and serious songs about self-destruction, wondering and hoping. Maybe you won’t realize it right away, but Vic Chesnutt will end the winter of your discontent. With Elf Power and Yer Cronies.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE VIC CHESTNUT SITE

SATURDAY JANUARY 31ST

Attitude City

@ Clubhouse Jager923 Washington Avenue N. North Loop

10pm / 21+ / Free

The explosion of pure disco heat that is Attitude City invades your ears not once, but twice tonight. With double duty at both Rosalux Gallery (see listing above) and Clubhouse Jager, you can make it an All-AC night if you feel so inclined. When these hot, hot DJs and their glamorous beats collide with the dance floor you never know what might happen -- though it may involve the ripping off of shirts and/or the fondling of luxurious chest hair.

CLICK JEFF'S CHEST FOR THE ATTITUDE CITY SITEPhoto by Kate Iverson

SATURDAY JANUARY 31ST

Lollipop Girls in Hard Candy in 3-D

@ Uptown Theater2906 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis

Midnight / $9

If Luis Buñuel and Monty Python took acid and made a porno, the result would be something on the absurdity level of 70's erotic film, Lollipop Girls in Hard Candy. The nonsensical plot in which a thermos of “cream-of-yak” soup is spilled on a batch of lollipops at a candy factory creating a powerful aphrodisiac sweet, quickly becomes forgotten in the midst of crude humor, psychedelic imagery and displays of more 70's bushes than should ever be seen in one person's lifetime. Shot in 3-D and chocked full of cheesy innuendos and soft-core delights, we wouldn't call this film a cinematic genius, but it's worth seeing if only for the experience. And really, what better climatic end to an arousing Saturday night than watching 3-D porn in a room full of sauced up strangers.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS: E-mail kate@letoilemagazine.com with "HARD CANDY" in the subject line to be entered to win a pair of tickets to Saturday's screening. Winner will be drawn at Noon on Saturday and put on the guestlist at the door.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE UPTOWN SITE

SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: DAN AUERBACH

If you love the Black Keys as much as we do, then listen up: the Keys' lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Dan Auerbach has a solo release called Keep It Hid on the way. Although the album sports some of the same high-energy, Black Keys-esque blues, garage, and rock, most of the album finds Auerbach scratching other musical itches in the vein of classic-rock and country. Check him out in First Avenue's mainroom in March!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DAN AUERBACH MYSPACEPhoto by James Quine

GUEST BLOGGER: A TINY MACHINE

Breaking art gossip from Washington D.C. a la A Tiny Machine! Check this blog for incoming from Fashion Week as well!

Le Gossip

One of my best friends works at the National Gallery in DC. She has one of those amazing jobs in conservation and restoration that requires her to fly out to Italy for a week so that she can escort a few paintings back to the gallery. Not only does this mean a behind the scenes tour when I go out there for the Cherry Blossom Festival (I'm still despondent that I didn't visit her in Los Angeles to take advantage of the same treatment at the Getty), it also means that I'm occasionally privy to juicy bits of gossip from the national and international art community. So with her permission, I'd like to share a story that confirms what many already suspected: Mrs. Cheney is kind of awful. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...

Despite the ongoing legal battle for the show's broadcasting rights, New York Magazine fashion blog The Cut is reporting that Project Runway Season Six is scheduled to shoot Feb. 20 at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. According to Tim Gunn:

"I'm making my home visits to the finalists starting on Sunday (Jan. 11)," Gunn says. "It's an incredible season. It really is. And I just want people to see it. And I want the designers on the show to get the exposure."

Former Minneapolis resident and Voltage alum Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman is rumored to be a contestant on the show - but of course, his lips are sealed.

Keep tuned to Le Petit Connaisseur for details on the sixth season as they emerge! For now, you can whet your appetite with Project Runway Canada's second season on YouTube, which premieres on Feb. 2.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE LE PETIT SITERa'mon-Lawrence Coleman, photographed by Eliesa Johnson for METRO Magazine

Thursday, January 22, 2009

We've resolved to stop our incessant complaining about the weather and the fact we can't afford to fly first class to Miami to wait out the winter. Let’s face it, we are Minnesotans, tried and true. Make this weekend a fiery one with a countless number of smokin' hot events that are designed to have you peeling off those layers in no time. Check out the Minnesota Opera's production of Faust; raise your art index at the Rogue Buddha; or simply sweat it out on the dance floor at one of the many DJ nights scheduled. For the brave souls who prefer an icy chill, the St. Paul Winter Carnival is in full effect, though we think we'll take a rain check -- we're not quite that Minnesotan!

xo-l'étoile

THURSDAY JANUARY 22ND

Ye Olde English Dunny Release

@ ROBOTlove2648 Lyndale AvenueMinneapolis

6pm-8pm / Free

Be first to lay eyes on the latest Kidrobot Dunny series tonight! This Brit-inspired collection will disappear faster than Amy Winehouse's sobriety, so blacken a tooth or two and take the tube (aka the bus or your car) to Uptown tonight. Enjoy frenzied dunny trading, refreshments (perhaps tea, krumpets, and spotted dick?) and take 10% off your purchase just for showing up. ROBOTlove will also appeal to your ears, as tonight's trading fest also doubles as a listening party for Matt & Kim's new album Grand. Special giveaways include a signed copy of the album (on vinyl) and other cool prizes. Bone up on your cockney and head to ROBOTlove tonight!

BONUS: Stop by ROBOTlove on Friday between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. for an exclusive in-store signing event with toy designer, rock star, and comic artist Claudio Sanchez, the man behind the Kill Audio comic series and limited edition figure. Dress warmly, there will be a line!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE ROBOTLOVE SITE

THURSDAY JANUARY 22ND

The Keeper Awards

@ Red Stag509 1st Ave NEMinneapolis

8pm / $10 Advance, $15 At the Door

As much as the Twin Cities art scene continues to thrive year after year, we still have a tendency to lose our creative forces to the enticement of larger cities across the country, especially during these frigid Winter months when we all may be questioning why we haven't flown South yet. Instead of wasting time taking it personally, Metro Magazine devised a plan involving open bribes of cake and pretty awards to ensure our most talented feel comfortably loved and appreciated. Tonight, eight artists, from designers to dancers, will be recognized with an award and a pristine party to show we consider them an integral part of the TC, in other words a “keeper.” Meet buzzworthies Eddie Oroyan, Celeste Jones, Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman, Travis Stearns, Justin Staggs, Laura Flynn, Andréa Stanislav and Aditi Brennan Kapil while you enjoy tunes by The Moon Goons, along with complimentary drinks and appetizers. If this mild display of sucking up doesn't work on these talented folks, we're going straight to Plan B, locking them down with an old-fashioned ball and chain.

Drawing is all the rage, and doesn’t the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program know it! Four drawers (and that word has different definitions) descend on the MIA this month to show off their kinetic sculptures, cutouts, layered drawings and photos. Through March 16th.

In conjunction with the highly celebrated Text/Messages: Books by Artists, Minnesota Center for Book Arts instructor Aki Shibata will teach the curious how to make an accordion artist book. Learn a new art from an expert, then wander out into the galleries (it's Target free Thursdays). The best part is, you don’t have to clean up all the glue you’re sure to splatter!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WALKER SITE

FRIDAY ART PICK: ALEX GROSS

If C.S. Lewis impregnated Baron Münchhausen behind a carnival tent sometime during the last half of the 20th century, their love child might have been named Alex Gross. This prolific artist touches on fantasy, mystery and history in his intriguingly surreal paintings and mixed media work. A delight to examine and dissect, Gross' work is deliciously creepy in an old-timey and storybook-ish sort of way. We can't help but wonder what would happen if this artist put pen to paper in a more writerly approach, as his imagination seems to know no bounds.

Kicking off his 10th year in business, gallery owner Nicholas Harper hosts the exhibit Eat Your Heart Out, showcasing the evocative artwork of Roxanne Jackson and Kurt Melancon. Through dualistic elements, Jackson's sculptures pair the shockingly grotesque with qualities of human dignity while Kurt Melancon's images are an allegory of past figures and events. Both artists touch upon the link between social and historical constructs and the effect they have on our individual transformations. Tonight's opening reception presents a first hand look at this unique exhibit that runs through February 28th.

Since snow is burying any visible trace of green, now is the perfect time to take in a landscape show. Live vicariously through these three Minnesota artist’s work. Hamline University professor Andrew Wykes shows his softened palette; Minnesota State University professor Robert Dorlac’s plein air paintings draw us in; and Minneapolis’ own Gregory Euclide's dreamy sculpture-drawing steals the show. Through February 28th.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COMArt by Gregory Euclide

FRIDAY JANUARY 23RD

Private Dancer

@ Triple Rock629 Cedar Ave SMinneapolis

9pm / 21+ / $5

Expect a swift onslaught of energy and an all around rockin' good time this Friday night, as Private Dancer playfully churns out Surf and garage with thrashier, wilder noise that grabs elements of The Stooges, Pavement, and early Pixies -- making for a most excellent evening. With Dynamiters, Strut & Shock, and Les Deux Maggots.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE PRIVATE DANCER MYSPACE

FRIDAY JANUARY 23RD

Hip Hop against Homophobia

@ Nomad501 Cedar Av. S.Minneapolis

9pm / 21+ / $5

Haters take note – some of the most prolific hip hop and spoken word artists in the Twin Cites are joining together to take a stand against intolerant messages in hip hop with a massive line up! Featuring Maria Isa, Toki Wright, Alicia Leafgreen, El Guante , DJ Blowtorch, Kredentials and much more. Proceeds from the show will go to the anti-Proposition 8 coalition: Join the Impact, who has been responsible for putting together blow-outs all over the country.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE NOMAD SITE

FRIDAY JANUARY 23RD

1996: The Party

@ First Ave VIP Room 701 1st Ave. NMinneapolis

10pm / 18+/ $3 ($1 with College ID)

Forget partying like it's 1999 -- around here we party like it's 1996! First at a Honeymoon night, now hosted by The Original Truth Squad, '90s themed parties are popping up around every corner. And because it feeds our cheesy side, we can't really complain. If you missed out on rockin' hard during the mid-90's, now's your chance to revel in over-sized sweaters, ripped jeans and classic club hits. Tonight's scrumptious lineup features sets by I AM BREAK, HE IS THE BEAT, Rob Rob and Saund Waav. We guarantee it will be way more fun than the Scream film.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FIRST AVE SITE

COOL LINK: GUNPOWDER MAGAZINE

Those of us feeling the heat of the economy know that there are certain little sacrifices we make in order to get by. It may even come down to ditching a copy of your favorite indulgent fashion zine. Luckily, the online magazine Gunpowder understands going virtual doesn't mean losing quality or edginess. Comprised of some of the best stylists, writers and photographers in the biz, Gunpowder Magazine might even qualify as more current than its printed competitors with interactive links that are constantly updating articles -- and no waiting between issues. From glamour to gastronomy, Gunpowder's motto is “In Gorgeousness We Trust. So Shall You.” And the best part of it all? It doesn't cost you a cent.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GUNPOWDER MAG SITE

SATURDAY JANUARY 24TH

Winter Carnival / King Boreas Parade

East 4th St. @ BroadwaySt. Paul

2pm / free

You know what parades are about. None are quite like the Winter Carnival’s though. We’re the only place that celebrates winter with floats, weird Vulcan men and a much-sought-after medallion. Be proud that while others are cowering indoors, Minnesotans are out in the slush, pioneering innovative and fun techniques. Bring a flask of peppermint schnapps, a blanket, and a cutie to cuddle up to, and watch the festivities.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WINTER CARNIVAL SITE

SATURDAY JANUARY 24TH (THROUGH FEB 1ST)

Faust

@ Ordway Center 345 Washington St. St. Paul

7:30pm / $40-120

Back on the stage for the first time in over a decade, the Minnesota Opera presents Faust, a classic tale of the lengths one may journey for desire and self-fulfillment. In this Goethe story, a weathered Dr. Faust bargains with devil to restore his body to the days of his prime, in hopes of winning the heart of the youthful Marguerite. But if Meryl Streep taught us anything in Death Becomes Her, it was that eternal youth comes at a heavy price, and Faust's naïve attempt at romantic harmony leads to an epic struggle between good and evil. Paired with the stunning music of Charles Gounod, this production is a must see. Visit the Minnesota Opera website below for dates and performance times. And while you're there, check out Tempo, the Opera's young professionals membership level that will garner you invites to fancy soirees and operatic exclusives!

In the heart of our coldest months, there's nothing like the warm, luminosity of color to remind us that Summer will indeed come and things will flourish once again. In the spirit of this hope, Umber Studios presents an exhibit by multi-media artist, Laura Hallen. As a seasoned gardner, Hallen understands the complexity of vegetation and organic compounds, and it's apparent in her vivid work. Using the mediums of beeswax, plexiglass and acrylic paint, Hallen creates a texture and imagery similar to what a botanist would study under a microscopic lens. Exploring her exhibit helps us remember that subtle growth continues all around us. Runs through February 7th.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM

SATURDAY JANUARY 24TH

Go Negativ Zine Release

@ Turf Club 1601 University AveSt. Paul

9pm / $5

Fact: Zines are the coolest. Go Negativ is a new literary/arts zine with a dark and cynical slant. We always need more of those around. Help them celebrate their first issue by grabbing a copy, drinking a double Jack Daniels, and appreciating the noise of Chickadee Mountain Martyrs, The Vignettes, The Dad in Common and Slapping Purses.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TURF CLUB SITE

SATURDAY JANUARY 24TH

Grand Hat Party

@ Clubhouse Jager923 Washington Avenue N.North Loop

10pm / Free

Tonight is your chance to rock that outrageous hat you've been coveting without the risk being called pretentious and/or getting smacked. We're not sure if the clip-on hair extension we braided into a Danny Wood-esque duck tail counts as a hat, but we'll just slap on some sort of fancy beanie and call it a set. Head down to the Clubhouse tonight and prance to the feisty sounds of Tendercakes and Dirty McKenzie, playing disco, house, electro, hip hop and new wave. It's a proven fact that people in hats get more play, so wear that robot helmet you put Garfield stickers all over and rock this party, foo!

Sponsored by l'étoile magazine, of course!

Bonus: If you're looking for more dance-action, our oldest party cohort and total hottie, DJ Bach, will be flippin' wax at Too Much Love tonight!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT

SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: VIVIAN GIRLS

This Brooklyn trio is reminiscent of the Raincoats with their harmonies and the feeling that they record in a basement. Part '60s girl group and part riot grrrl monsters of sound, these ladies drive us wild! Yes to punk rock, yes to being addicted to an album, yes to the Vivian Girls!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE VIVIAN GIRLS MYSPACE

SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH

Gerald Prokop, Me You Like I, and Brad Senne

@ Acadia Cafe 329 Cedar Ave SMinneapolis

8pm / free

Thank the lord the Acadia is back in effect. Catch one of the hardest working musicians in the Twin Cities, Gerald Prokop tonight, and good luck getting his songs out of your head! Sip on one of their many tap beers, think about life in the Midwest, and find your new favorite bands tonight. With the ever-charming Brad Senne and Me You Like I.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE GERALD PROKOP SITE

SUNDAY JANUARY 25TH

Square Dance

@ Bedlam Theatre1501 S 6th St.Minneapolis

8pm / suggested donation

Grab your partner and do-si-do, radical style. Put on your special shoes, your twirly skirts, your button-up cowboy shirts and listen to that dance caller. You probably haven’t brushed up on your square dancing skills since junior high gym class, but now’s the time to shine. You don’t have to be jealous of the old people on public access tv anymore -- you too can get out on the floor and look amazing!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE BEDLAM SITE

TUESDAY JANUARY 27TH

Proceed and Be Bold!

@ Minnesota Center for Book Arts1011 Washington Ave SMinneapolis

7pm / free

9 to 5, day in and day out can drive a person nuts. Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. dropped it all one day to be a letterpress artist working in rural Alabama. Working with politics, race, and gender, his posters and book art are showcased in this documentary, raising questions about the fundamentals of art and art-making.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MCBA SITE

GUEST BLOGGER: A TINY MACHINE

While we were tempted to post A Tiny Machine's recent entry about our all-time favorite episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Once More With Feeling), we figured it would be more socially relevant to give props to our hot new prez and his equally hot wife. We still love Buffy though. A lot.

Good-Looking Couples

I really appreciate that Michelle Obama's been wearing so many pieces by less established designers. Because of her influence, Thakoon, Isabel Toledo, and Maria Pinto are becoming household names. And now CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Jason Wu has his name attached to what will be one of the most visible dresses of 2009.

Under the current economic climate, it doesn't get much better than "free." That is, if you wear cosmetics. Beginning today, you can visit a number of major department stores and get a free mystery bottle of cosmetics.

It's all part of a class-action suit from 2003, apparently the penalty retailers and cosmetic lines had to pay for an alleged price fixing conspiracy. The giveaway is limited to a selection of 20 various cosmetic items including body wash, mascara, facial cream and perfume, with an average value of $15; only one giveaway is allowed per visit. Supplies are limited, so make sure you get to your nearest Macy's, Target, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and/or Herberger's before supplies run out.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

It's easy to get lost in the desolate depths of the winter blahs, believe us, we know. But despite the hard freeze, the economy and any other woes we may have, our spirits can't help but be lifted when we see our artistic cohorts thrive. This week's lineup shows us the arts are alive and well: From the critics' picks at Hopkins Art Center to the new studio opening in Northeast; and from the artsy tundra of Medicine Lake to an unexpected evening of poetry and music in the West End. We may not have champagne, diamonds or even warm weather, but we've certainly got enough artistic pizazz to get us through until Spring!

It's one thing to acknowledge a piece of art for being paramount and unique but the jump from the kind of art we find interesting to the sort we would display on the walls of our own home may vary quite exponentially. For tonight's Critics' Show opening reception, some of MPLS' most in the know critics have been asked to curate the Hopkins Center for the Arts with work they deem worthy of their stamp of approval. Each critic was asked to pick a few of their favorite diversified and underexposed emerging local artists. Among the critics, is our own Kate Iverson (who is also the A+E Editor for Secrets of the City) as well as mnartists.org Editor, Susannah Schouweiler, mnartists.org Project Director, Scott Stulen and Vita.mn Lead Arts Writer, Gregory J. Scott. Some of the artists selected for the show include circuit bending musicians Beatrix JAR, painting prodigy Rudy Fig and installation artist Alonso Sierralta. Join the critics in a panel discussion beginning at 7pm and catch the gallery show through February 22nd.

CLICK FOR THE HOPKINS ART CENTER WEBSITEArt by Travis Stearns

THURSDAY JANUARY 15TH

Third Thursday: Snap!

@ Minneapolis institute of Arts2400 3rd Ave S.Minneapolis

6pm-9pm / free

The MIA has bragging rights to the most stellar photo collection in the Upper Midwest. Join them in reveling in it at their Third Thursday event devoted to photography. Watch John Water’s film, Pecker and listen to one of l’etoile’s favorites, Cadillac Kolstad and the Flats, bang it out on the keys. Be sure to peruse the exhibit Masterpiece Photographs from the MIA: The Curatorial Legacy of Carroll T. Hartwell (the founding curator of the department), which includes 50 of the most important photographs in the museum.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE MIA SITE

THURSDAY JANUARY 15TH

Sound and Light: Projector Performances

@ Walker Arts Center Cinema1750 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis

7:30pm / Free

Part of the Walker's on-going series, Expanding the Frame 2009, Bruce McClure's work is an experimentation with multiple projectors, xenon flash technology and sound that steps past the boundaries of cinema and visual art. McClure's mish-mash of film loops and light infusion to the soundtrack of synthesized electronic noises plays upon sensory reaction and borders on elements of mind control. As if Bruce McClure wasn't reason enough to show up, it also happens to be Target Free First Thursdays, so admission is free!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WALKER SITE

THURSDAY JANUARY 15TH

SLAP!

@ Kitty Cat Klub313 14th Ave SEMinneapolis

9pm / 21+ / Free

Join your favorite ginger-haired lady DJs, Tendercakes, and mustachioed record slayer Millions Billions as they kick off their brand new monthly dance fiasco at the Kitty Cat Klub! Come get bitch slapped with killer cuts, including hot electro, hip hop, pop and so much more. If it's a real smack in the face you're after, no worries, they'll have those too, along with sassy drink specials including the "Ginger Slap" to numb your cheeks and move your feet! Watch for special guests each month, and get ready to get your SLAP on!

Sponsored by yours truly, l'étoile!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FACEBOOK EVENT

FRIDAY ART PICK: DENNIS CONRAD

Oh, Dennis Conrad, where have you been hiding, and why haven’t we noticed you sooner? This talented local mystery artist recently popped up on our myspace friend requests, and while we blush to admit we've discovered a new potential favorite via a social networking site, we are excited enough not to deny it! Conrads' work ranges from appropriated to graffiti-esque, from oils to acrylics -- often applied to found objects. We're especially taken with his painting, which is touched with a darkly imaginative sense of whimsy, yet pops back and forth between unexpected styles and disjointed imagery. We look forward to hopefully seeing this artist in a local gallery, sooner than later!

Spot Art always throws a great party. This time around Lonesome Dan Kase strums away while Judy Ostrowski inks you up with henna tattoos. See the likes of BMF’s metalwork/jewelry, Splee’s trippy paintings, and Ben Garthus’ take on fine art, just to name a few. Through March 6th.

Andréa Stanislav’s studies of color and perception made such a splash at the MIA last year, it's no wonder Minneapolis has called her back! With nine new examples of her “pop minimalist” glitter, polymer and vinyl works, Stanislav's art is as rich with pop culture references as it is sparkly. What is reality? What is perception? We don’t know, but maybe this artist will help us get there. Through February 2nd.

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COM

FRIDAY JANUARY 16TH

Franz Nicolay

@ Triple Rock Social Club629 Cedar Ave SMinneapolis

9pm/$10/21+

This traveling accordion, piano, guitar, mandolin, saw, and harmonica aficionado has played with the likes of The Hold Steady, World/Inferno Friendship Society and Guignol. He wanders into town tonight to regale us with gypsy music, his handlebar mustache and a boatload of good times. With the God Damn Doo Wop Band.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE FRANZ NICOLAY MYSPACEPhoto by Konstantin Sergeyev

FRIDAY JANUARY 16TH

Solid Gold & Lookbook

@ Turf Club1601 University AveSt Paul

9pm / 21+ / $7

It's the weekend once again, and we can't think of a better way of spending a Friday night than at St. Paul's best rock club, the Turf, for a line-up of undeniable talent. The ever-dashing boys of Solid Gold continue to charm the pants off us with their sizzling indie electro-pop, and up and coming experimental outfit Lookbook round out the bill perfectly with their haunting vocals set to methodical beats. You would be a fool to miss out on this one! Save moolah by getting tickets early via the Turf's website.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE TURF SITE

FRIDAY JANUARY 16TH

Honeymoon

@ VIP701 1st Ave N.Minneapolis

10pm / 18+ / $6

Our favorite club-rockin' party crew rolls back into the VIP for their monthly rager. Honeymoon. This month, your hosts the Moongoons are joined by DJ duo Shenhannigans (David and Ken Hannigan, of Anthem Heart) and Max Pask. This month's theme is totally 90's house party, so bust out those old JNCO's, get angsty, and celebrate the good old days of raves gone by. Prizes for the best dressed 90's party kid, drink specials, and T-shirt giveaways are just a few of the goodies Honeymoon has to offer. And as always, an RSVP will get you in for only $3.Co-Sponsored by l'étoile magazine of course!

CLICK THE IMAGE TO RSVP

COOL LINK: TWIN CITIES EXPERIMENTAL COLLEGE

You know how you’ve been wanting to learn how to fix your bike yourself. Or perhaps you'd like to know a bit more about documentary filmmaking? Your prayers (and maybe your New Year’s resolutions) have been heard. EXCO offers free classes with the aim of creating community and using education for social change. Their new calendar of classes has just been posted, and the offerings are exciting! Learn something new and meet some other inquisitive minds while you're at it!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE EXCO SITE

SATURDAY JANUARY 17TH

Art Shanty Projects

@ Medicine LakePlymouth, MN

11am-2pm / Free

When the cold weather strikes, some people retreat into the comfort and warmth of their homes, taking their creativity into hibernation with them. But the artists involved in the sixth annual Art Shanty Project do quite the opposite. What some of us might see as the white void of a dead tundra, they see as the unblemished, clear palate of potential. Each year, this community art project challenges the way we see artistic environments by using the expansiveness of a public frozen lake as an art gallery and host to a series of interactive art projects. Black Rock City has Burning Man, the Twin Cities has the Art Shanty Projects. Take a ride across the ice in an ArtCar Taxi, enjoy a puppet show, sing your lungs out to a bit of karaoke and a witness a traveling dance performance. This community art project is supported by mnartists.org and the Soap Factory and runs through February 14th. Visit the website for a full schedule of events.

Sherri Dahl has a new space in the Thorp Building where she’s showing her oil paintings. This is a big deal because: 1) She paints dinosaurs. 2) Her paintings are colorful and energetic, and it’s January, and we’re lethargic. See? Specializing in piles of “accumulated objects,” her series is ongoing and totally original.

No, it’s not tax time yet (whew!) Ten prints of ten artist’s works will be made and sold for only $40....perfect for your checkbook these days. This juried show’s theme focuses on US idealism, spanning the economic situation, religious conflict, and the changing political environment. Also, new Fox Tax shirts have arrived, printed by Anthem Heart with an image by Andy Singer. Yay! Through April 18th.

BONUS: While you're there book an appointment to get your taxes done! Fox Tax specializes in tax preparation for artists and musicians just like you!

CLICK FOR THIS ART EVENT AND MORE AT MPLSART.COMArt by Rudy Fig

SATURDAY JANUARY 17TH

Enrique's Birthday Bash

@ 414 Soundbar414 3rd Avenue N.Warehouse District

8pm-2am

If you've been to the 414 Soundbar, you've undoubtedly met the charming owners, Enrique and Johann, who make it a point to treat all their guests like true VIPs. This evening, turn the tables and show some love for birthday boy Enrique, who turns another undisclosed, but devilishly handsome year older. Dance the night away with special guest DJs, perfect cocktails, and pretty people, but don't forget to give Enrique his spankings!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE SOUNDBAR SITE

SATURDAY JANUARY 17TH

Scene, Be Seen and be Heard

@ Czech Hall383 Michigan St.St. Paul

8pm / $5

The West End of St. Paul has been busy organizing its artists as of late. This time around, performers of all talents show off at the historic and kitschy-enough-to-be-hip Czech Hall. Ranging from short films, poetry readings and hip hop, to performance art and comedy, this pocket of St. Paul proves it's not lacking in doers and makers. Free popcorn and a cash bar make this ultra-cozy show even more so.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE WEST END ART SCENE BLOG

SATURDAY JANUARY 17TH

Avenpitch CD Release

@ Club Underground355 Monroe St NEMinneapolis

9pm / 21+ / $5

Military Special, Skittish and Thosquanta will join forces in support of technicolor technopunks Avenpitch for the release of their 3rd album, Cast Off, which takes everything that was catchy and danceable about New Order, Depeche Mode, and NIN and chops it up, speeds it up and cranks out howling yet tuneful blasts of digital distortion. The Avenpitch live experience boasts more than just a laptop set; live percussion, guitar, and vocals adds a frantic punk energy that will melt the frost off the hearts of many a seasoned scenester.

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE AVENPITCH MYSPACE

SATURDAY JANUARY 17TH

Lucy Michelle & the Velvet Lapelles

@ The Dakota Jazz Club1010 Nicollet AveMinneapolis

11:30pm / $5

How could you not adore Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles? Recently declared on of the best locals bands of 2008 by the City Pages, Lucy Michelle's infectiously cute, folksy vocals blended with the unconventional instruments such as the ukulele, trinket jar, accordion and throat trombone to make this ensemble of musicians truly unique. If you haven't gotten a chance to see them perform live yet, catch them tonight in Downtown MPLS at The Dakota. Plus, isn't it worth it just to see for yourself what a “throat trombone” is?

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE DAKOTA SITEphotos by Rich Mitchell

SUNDAY MUSIC PICK: FEVER RAY

If you've ever heard the live version of The Knife's most popular tune “Heartbeats,” no doubt you're familiar with their ability to break down electronic music into emotional subdivisions. The band Fever Ray can best be described as a manifestation of that breakdown. As the solo project of The Knife's Karin Dreijer Andersson, Fever Ray's sound is provocative and organic with a unique electronic progression and tribal elements. Karin's distinctive vocal spectrum is perfectly blended with eerily absorbing lyrics and ambient sounds. Their self-titled album is set to be released at the end of March but in the meantime, check out this haunting video for the single “If I Had a Heart” by the genius director Andreas Nilsson shot in a fittingly ominous castle in Sweden.

The best and worst of the 70s and beyond collide with Long Beach's DJ Katie tonight at the Hex! This special guest will bust out gems from her personal collection of Motown, garage and girl group sounds for this all-lady edition of Hot Roxx. Resident DJs Jen and Nick will follow suit with corresponding chick-rock, and drinks will be slung in excess, as per usual!

CLICK THE IMAGE FOR THE HOT ROXX MYSPACE

GUEST BLOGGER: A TINY MACHINE

Another post from our fave Sci-Fi/Beauty blogger, A Tiny Machine.

All the Whos Down in Whoville Liked Drinking A lot

Calling all Twin Cities Doctor Who fans! The Minneapolis Doctor Who Meetup Group's monthly gathering is this Saturday from 4 to 8 at Merlins Rest. It will include a viewing of this season's Christmas special and a few of the group's favorite episodes. It's my first time attending, though in my heart, I've always been a member. Come share a pint with nerds and British people!

Mark your calendars: I've got the exclusive preview of spring fashion events happening in and around Minneapolis. Here's a sampling of the events I'm most excited about...(Click the image to see the calendar)

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